On one occasion
the Blessed One was living near Rajagaha, in the bamboo grove,
in the Squirrels' feeding ground. At that time the Venerable
Maha Kassapa who was living in the Pipphali Cave, was afflicted
with a disease from which he was suffering, and was gravely
ill.

Then the
Blessed One arising from his solitude at eventide visited the
Venerable Maha Kassapa and sat down on a seat made ready (for
him). Thus seated the Blessed One spoke to the Venerable Maha
Kassapa:

'Well Kassapa,
how is it with you? Are you bearing up, are you enduring (your
suffering)? Do your pains decrease or increase? Are there signs
of your pains decreasing and not of increasing?'

'No, Ven.
Sir, I am not bearing up, I am not enduring, the pain is very
great. There is a sign not of pains decreasing but of their
increasing.'

'Kassapa,
these Seven Factors of Enlightenment are well expounded by me
and are cultivated and fully developed by me. They conduce to
perfect understanding, to full realization (of the Four Noble
Truths) and to Nibbana. What are the seven?

i.
Mindfulness, the factor of enlightenment, Kassapa, is well expounded
by me, and is cultivated and fully developed by me. It conduces
to perfect understanding, to full realization and to Nibbana.

ii. Investigation of the Dhamma, the factor of enlightenment,
Kassapa, is well expounded by me, and is cultivated and fully
developed by me. It conduces to perfect understanding, to full
realization and to Nibbana.

iii. Persevering effort, the factor of enlightenment, Kassapa,
is well expounded by me and is cultivated and fully developed
by me. It conduces to perfect understanding, to full realization
and to Nibbana.

iv. Rapture, the factor of enlightenment, Kassapa, is well expounded
by me, and is cultivated and fully developed by me. It conduces
to perfect understanding, to full realization and to Nibbana.

v. Calm, the factor of enlightenment, Kassapa, is well expounded
by me, and is cultivated and fully developed by me. It conduces
to perfect understanding, to full realization and to Nibbana.

vi. Concentration, the factor of enlightenment, Kassapa, is well
expounded by me, and is cultivated and fully developed by me.
It conduces to perfect understanding, to full realization and
to Nibbana.

vii. Equanimity, the factor of enlightenment, Kassapa, is well
expounded by me, and is cultivated and fully developed by me.
It conduces to perfect understanding, to full realization and
to Nibbana.'

'These Seven Factors of Enlightenment, Kassapa, are well expounded
by me and are cultivated and fully developed by me. They conduce
to perfect understanding, to full realization and to Nibbana.'

'Most assuredly,
O Blessed One, they are factor of enlightenment. Most assuredly,
O Welcome Being (Sugata), they are factors of enlightenment.'

Thus said
the Buddha, and the Venerable Maha Kassapa glad at heart approved
the utterances of the Buddha. Thereupon the Venerable Kassapa
recovered from that affliction, and that affliction, of the
Venerable Kassapa disappeared.